Improvement in pendent reading-desks



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UQ No. 121,810.

Ffaf. Patented Dec. 12,1871.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. PERKINS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PENDENT READING-DESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,810, dated December 12, 1871.

To all lwhom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. PERKINs, of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain Improvements in a Pendent Reading or Vriting Desk, of which the following is a specication:

My invention relates to the fitting of a pendent reading or writing desk to a chair or bedstead, which can stretch over the head or' any person using such chair or bed and form a very convenient apparatus for reading or writing` with ease and comfort, and at the same time afford a sick person, by its lateral movement, easy positions to rest in, and also, by the method adopted in fastening, preserve the furniture from injury.

Figure l is a side elevation of my invention strapped onto a chair with a person seated therein and reading from the pendent desk. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the above. Fig. 3 is a back view of my invention before being adjusted to a bed or chair, (with part of upright broken off.) Fig. 4 is a plan of the same in full. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are the bottom, top, front, and side views ofthe reading-desk, respectively. Figs. 9 and l0 represent, respectively, the plan and side views of the transverse portion W, which stretches between the tapering ends of P, and on which the reading-desk rests.

My invention of a pendent reading-desk consists of four principal portions, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, P', Q, P, and D, which I will proceed to describe in their order.

P represents the portion attached to a chair or bedstead by means of the strap S and handle H, and consists of a suitable strong piece ot' wood. At a certain distance in its length, some twelve inches above the usual height from the top of the chair or bedstead to which it is intended to be fastened, is cut a rack, z z, Figs. l and 3, so that the strap B may inclose the portion Q and slip in and out of the rack z z when the pen dent requires adjustment; and at the top a set-screw, L, with string fastenings, is placed to relieve in part theweight of the pendent by being attached to it at m. Q is a block of wood having a hole drilled in it to admit of the tenon or pivot p, and curved infront for the sliding of the strap B, which serves to fasten it. P consists of two curved tapering pieces of wood joined together at the thick end and spreading out at the thin. The curve is made of sufficient size when iixed in its place to admit of a person sitting down in any position with easeand comfort. The thick end is the nearer part to the chair or brdstead, and terminates by a quick curve with a pivot, p, to fasten into Q, s0 that by slipping the band B and moving it up and down in the rack z z the tapering extremities are depressed or raised accordingly, and the screw at L adjusts the cord attachments at in to suit. Two strings, c o, pass over the top of the branches of P, through the eyes e e, from the roller R, (which is placed between these branches in a convenient positi0n,) and are nally attached to the hooks f f of the desk D, which they partially support. At the taper extremities of P is a dat piece of wood, W, stretching transversely across, and capable ot' revolution by means of the small shafts fitted at the ends, which work in the bearings t t on these same extremities; and in its center a hole is made for the set-screw W', belonging to the desk D, to enter through. At g and g and the ends of the taper extremities cords are attached which pass through slips of woodN and N', which slide up and down and are secured by the tension oi' the cords; little wire hooks h and h' are fastened to these slips so that they can hold a drawing or picture. A ange may be attached to P and Q with pin and pin-holes for adjustment, such as r and JI., respectively, for the revolution of the pendent. D is the reading or writing desk, and consists of`a flat piece of wood somewhat broader at the end near the chair. On the top, at the narrow part, raised tables are placed for a lamp or other convenience, and beneath small angular slips are fastened longitudinally so as to admit of the bolt set-screw w traveling with its angular head secured within these slips, so that when this bolt has been passed through the central hole of W and the nut screwed on the desk may be able to slide longitudinally on W and be adjusted in any position in its length, and when so fastened can revolve on the axis of .W Iwhen the cords c c are lowered or raised. A beading surrounds the desk D at the bottom, of about the same depth as the slips aforementioned, and the small hooks f f are placed in front, Fig. 2, for the cords to be fastened to. When the pendent is required for use the portion P is strapped onto a chair or bedstead by nieans of the strap S, the pieces P and Q fitted into the band B while resting on the rack z z, and the Oord Conneetions adjusted to the setscrew L; and finally the desk I) is slung' to the hooks ff and fastened onto the transverse pieee W, by means of its bolt set-serew ir, to the posi tion required. The seat or bed is now ready for Occupation, and the pal-hY nsingg` it on rising' has only to turn the pendent on its axis p, ont ol' the Way. The roller R regulates the incline of the desk D, and when not in use can be seeuled by a notch in one of the b anches of P by sliding it transversely on its bearings.

I claim as my invention- In a pendent reading or Writing desk, the npright Il fastened to a chair 0r bedstead by means oi' the strap S and handle H,in combination with the socket Q, curved pendent pieces P, and rea ing-desk I)7 substantially as and for the purpose hereinbef'ore set forth.

GEORGE F. PERKINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. PITTS, LloNEL VARIGAs. (62) 

